Hemming attachment for sewing machines



Sept 19, k1939V` E. J. swANsc-:N 2,173,509

HEMMING ATTACHMENT FORSEWINGl MACHINES Filed bec. 17, 1938 In@ "MW 'ummm,

INVENTOR.

Elle/2 LSH/@125012 l B j. Z i, M/ATTORNEY -a guiding and Patented Sept.19, 1939 PATENT oFF-Ica l HEMIHING ATTACHMENT FOR.l SEWING .MACHINESEllen J. Swanson, Manchester, Conn. Application December 17, 1938,Serial No. 246,364

,' 4 Claims. (c1. 11a-141) This invention relates to hemming attachmentsfor sewing machines and particularly toa narrow hemming attachment forturning the edge of' -a cravat or handkerchief prlor to its beingstitched, the attachment serving to retain the folded edge of thematerial in .position for stitching immediately in advance of theneedle.r

A primary object of the invention is to provide turning attachment forthe edge of textile materials which will form a very narrow hem alongthe edge of the material and which will also fold within the hem anyloose threads extending from the edge of the material.

One feature which enables me to accomplish the above named object isthat a metal loop is formed on the attachment connecting thelongitudinal edges of the guiding members'between which the fabricextends while being folded, this loop being at an intermediate position`along these guiding members.

Another feature that is important is that the loop is preferably formedby means of an integral projection extending laterally from alongitudinal edge of one of the hem forming members and bent over uponthe companion hem.forming member and preferably made fast theretoadjacent its edge.

With the above and other objects in view the invention may include thefeatures `of construction and operation set forth in the followingspecification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing annexed. hereto and forming a' part of thisspecification, I have shown the invention embodied in a hemmingattachment of the spring type for extremely narrow hems but it will beunderstood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that thedrawing is not to be construed as dening or `limiting the scope of theinvention, the claims appended to this specification being relied uponfor that purpose.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a hemming attachment forming the presentinvention shown in position on a sewing machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof the hemming attachment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 upon an enlarged scale;

'of fabric guiding members Fig. 6 is a perspective lview of the hemmer'cut off at the short loop connecting adjacent edges of the guidingmembers at an intermediate point.

In the above mentioned drawing there has been shown but one embodimentof the invention which is now deemed preferable, but it is to 'beunderstood that changes and modifications may be` made Within the scopeof the appended claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention. y,

Briefly, and in its preferred aspect, the invention may include theIfollowing principal parts: rst, a base plate adapted to be secured inposition on the platform of a sewing machine adjacent the needle andpresser foot; second, a pair one of which is se cured to the base plateat other of the guiding members being secured to the first, both membersextending toward the needle of the -sewing machine and being twistedlongitudinally so that fabric entering the space between the members atthe larger ends of these members will be folded upon itself as ittravels one end; third, the

longitudinally along and between the guiding members toward the needle;and fourth, a narrow loop connecting adjacent longitudinal edges of theguiding their length.

In the manufacture of cravats and other articles of textile material itis necessary to form neat finished edges. This is usually accomplishedby folding the material adjacent its edge upon itself-and stitching thefolds together with the raw or cut edge of the material concealed withinthe hem thus formed. To make the neatest possible edge the hem is madeas narrow as possible and should be free from loose threads extendingfrom the hem. When edges of material, particularly when cut on the bias,are to be hemmed there frequently are loose ends or threads of thefabric extending from the edge. These loose ends the conventional orstandard hemming attachments are unable to completely fold within thehem so that they may be concealed. As a result therefore therefrequently. are portions of these loose ends remaining in sight afterthe hem has been stitched in the usual manner. Such a hem to be entirelysatisfactory must have these loose ends or threads cut by hand. By meansof the small metal loop at an intermediate portion of members at a pointintermediate the attachment where the raw or cut edge can contacttherewith these loose ends are folded and concealed within the hem. Thehem therefore is completely finished with the loose ends concealed whenthe seam along the hem has been I stitched and tedioushand labor to nishthe hem is avoided;

Referring more in detail to the figures-of the drawing, there is shownat III the platform'of a standard form of sewing machine'having apresser fopt II mounted'on the lower end of presser bar I2 and a needleI3 fastened to needle bar I4. The above namedmembers and the feedingmeans I5 are or may be of any desired form and form no part of thepresent invention.

Secured in' fixed position on the platform Il is the base plate I6 ofthe hemming attachment which may have a screw passing through theplatform I0 and be held in place by a nut I1 threaded thereon from belowthe platform. The opposite end of the base plate I6 preferably has adownwardly bent end portion I8 entering a recess within the platform Iiito more securely retain the base plate I6 in position. upper surface ofthe base plate I6 is secured, as by means of a suitable rivet' I9, oneof the guiding or folding members 20 of the hemming attachment. 'I'hismember is bent upward adjacent its rear end at which it is attached tothe base plate and extends generally parallelly to and spaced from thebase plate to a point adjacent the needle I3. Fastened to the firstguiding member 2U at a point adjacent the rivet I9 is the second orcompanion-guiding member 2I. The portions of these members 20 and 2|adjacent the needle I3 are twisted together lengthwise and form betweenthem a guideway extending toward the needle within which the edge of afabric may be placed. Movement forward of the fabric by the feedingmechanism I5 will cause the material adjacent the edge to be folded overupon'itself as it approaches the needle so that its raw or cut edge maybe concealed. The material is completely folded within the twistedguideway prior yto being stitchedin the usual manner. vIn addition tothe members 20 and 2I there may be used a reinforcing member 22extending around the rearward portions of Vthese members. This member 22may be secured as by soldering or brazing to the outer surfaces of thefolded portions of member 2I. 'I'he channel for the fabric being hemmedextends between the -lower surface of the u pper folded portion ofmember 2l and the upper surface of member 2li.

At an intermediate portion of member 2I there is provided a projection23 preferably being formed as an integral part of the member 2|. Thisprojection 23 is folded or bent upwardly upon itself to form a narrowloop the upper free end of the projection overlapping the lon-vgitudinal edge of member 20. This free end of the projection 23 may besecured in place as best shown in Fig. 3 by being soldered or brazed tothe member 20. When bent into position as On the shown in the figures ofthe drawing the loop 23 is disposed at a point where the channel for thefabric has made substantially one-half a turn. This loop contacts thecut or raw edge of the fabric being hemmed and forces any loose endsextending from the fabric to be bent closely adjacent the fabric and befolded in and concealed by the further rolling or folding of the fabricas the hemmed fabric extends through the channel toward the needle. i

The loop 23 may be of any substantial width to engage and hold looseends against the cut edge of a fabric as they pass along the guidewaybetween the members 20 and 2I. Further folding of the hem between theends of the guiding members 20 and 2I beyond the loop serves to forceinwardly and conceal these loose ends. When the hem is stitched afterbeing completely folded the raw edge with any loose ends extendingtherefrom is permanently enclosed' within the hem.

I claim as my invention:

1. A hemming attachment for sewing machines comprising in combination, abase plate, a pair of adjacent longitudinally twisted guiding memberssecured thereon, and a closed loop connecting adjacent longitudinaledges of said guiding members at an intermediate portion of theirlength.

2. A hemming attachment for sewing machines comprising in combination,abase plate, a pair of adjacent longitudinally twisted guiding members'secured thereon, and a projection extending laterally from anintermediate portion of one of said 'guiding members and bent intocontact with the other guiding member, whereby a closed loop is formedconnecting adjacent longitudinal edgesof -said member at an intermediatepoint within which the edge of a fabric being hemmed may pass.

3. A hemming attachment for sewing machines vcomprising in combination,a base plate, a pair of adjacent longitudinally twisted guiding memberssecured thereon, and a closed loop formed integrally from one guidingmember and bent to closely contact the other guiding member at anintermediate portion of their length and connecting longitudinal edgesof said members.

4. A hemming attachment for sewing machines comprising in combination, abase plate, a pair of longitudinally twisted guiding members securedthereon and forming a continuously twisting channel through which theedge of a fabric being hemmed may pass, and a fixed closed loop disposedbetween and connecting adjacent longitudinal edges of said guidingmembers along one side of said channel at an intermediate portion oftheir length.

ELLEN J. SWANSON.

